Apparatus for disassembling filter and cigarette assemblies



J. R. PINKHAM ETAL 3,404,688

Oct. 8, 1968 APPARATUS FOR DISASSEMBLING FILTER AND CIGARETTE ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1965 0 ZN Z7 m m M M was M w M W 0 0 JO 0 V 6% 8 Tia. E.

Oct. 8, 1968 .J. R. PINKHAM ETAL APPARATUS FOR DISASSEMBLING FILTER AND CIGARETTE ASSEMBLI 'ES' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1965 v Ma HHJ g H wp M fiwkv EN 4 slw mm: JC

J. R PINKHAM ETAL APPARATUS FOR DISASSEMBLING FILTER AND CIGARETTE ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 4, 1965 1968 J. R. PINKHAM ETAL 3,404,688

APPARATUS FOR DISASSEMBLING FILTER AND CIGARETTE ASSEMBLIES Filed June 4, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tic. E.

ill M. (22. 4

United States Patent 3,404,688 APPARATUS FOR DISASSEMBLENG FILTER AND CIGARETTE ASSEMBLIES Jesse R. Pinkham, Colin S. McArthur, and Herbert L.

Speas, Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C., assignors to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, N.C., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 4, 1965, Ser. No. 461,291 12 Claims. (Cl. 131-20) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for cutting apart defective filter cigarettes so that filter portion and tobacco portion may be routed through respective salvage processes. Cigarettes are tested for integrity of paper cover as they move along periphery of rotating drum. Cigarettes failing test are ejected from drum and are directed to cutting apparatus. Ejection may take place before or after cutting. Cutting blades may be operated by any one of: (1) cams on drum set by test mechanism; (2) solenoid controlled by switch actuated by test mechanism; (3) separate drum which removes failed cigarettes from test drum and drives them through cutters; or (4) spring compressed by cam on test drum in advance of cutting station, latched, and tripped by solenoid controlled by switch actuated by test mechanism. Cutters may be fixed blades or rotating discs.

This invention relates to an apparatus for disassembling filter and cigarette assemblies, and more particularly relates to an apparatus adapted continuously to accept composite cigarette and filter assemblies and to disassemble certain rejected, defective assemblies preparatory to separately reclaiming the tobacco values thereof and the filter values thereof.

In an intermediate stage during the manufacture of filter tipped cigarettes, it is common practice to assemble in alignment two cigarettes of desired length and a double length section of filter material located between the two cigarettes. The ends of the two cigarettes are brought into abutting relationship with the filter section. A band of sealing material is then placed around the section of filter material with its edges overlapping the ends of the cigarettes. These overlapping edges are bonded to the cigarettes, thereby forming a double-unit consisting of two cigarette tobacco rods with a double length filter section between them. Ultimately these double-units are cut transversely at their center, resulting in the formation of two individual filter tipped cigarettes from each doubleunit.

The individual filter tipped cigarettes are then automatically collected and stored in large transport trays for ultimate transfer to packaging machinery. Use of such automatic tray-filling machines has been economical, since it eliminates much hand labor, but the manual inspection function previously performed at the same time has thereby been lost. Automatic inspection devices have been developed to overcome this aspect of the use of automatic tray-filling machines. There is shown in US. Patent 2,951,364, issued Sept. 6, 1960, to I. H. Sherrill, an automatic inspection device for testing the double-unit filter cigarettes by subjecting them to an internal air pressure different from the external pressure, to test for holes or leaks in the cigarette paper or filter. Double-units that fail the test are rejected, and those that pass the test are allowed to travel onward to the aforesaid transverse cutting operation.

The tobacco contained within rejected cigarettes is quite valuable, and must be salvaged. The filters have a lesser but still a significant salvage value. In order to have value,

Fee

the salvaged tobacco must not be contaminated with fibers from the filter. In cigarette machinery employed before the advent of the automatic inspection devices described above, the cigarettes were inspected visually. Unsatisfactory cigarettes were manually removed and placed by the inspector in trays for transfer to salvage operations. In so doing, the inspector would orient the cigarettes in the tray for economical salvage, segregating any bits and pieces. With the automatic inspection devices described above, the rejected cigarettes are unoriented and either in double length form, or in bits and pieces, and no inspector is normally present to segregate the bits and pieces and to orient the double length cigarettes. Salvage of material rejected by automatic inspection equipment by use of prior art salvage equipment is thus very unsatisfactory.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus adapted continuously to disassemble rejected double-unit cigarette and filter assemblies into two cigarette sections and a filter section, and segregate the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus wherein tobacco values may be reclaimed in substantially pure form and without the incorporation therein of filter material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus wherein rejected double-unit cigarette and filter assemblies are subjected to a cutting and segregating operation during the rejection phase so as to facilitate the separate reclamation of tobacco values and filter values.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a means which is additionally capable of segregating bits and pieces from double-unit cigarette and filter assemblies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for rapidly reclaiming cigarette values from cigarettes rejected during high-speed cigarette manufacture operation.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully appreciated as the description of apparatus according to the invention proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end view of an apparatus according to the invention incorporating a first embodiment of means for disassembling selected ones of a series of cigarette and filter assemblies;

FIG. 2 is a right hand side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus, taken along section line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3 and illustrating a second embodiment of the disassembling means;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing certain parts of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 6 and showing a third embodiment of disassembly means;

FIGS. 9 is a partial elevational view corresponding to FIG. 4 and showing certain elements of a fourth embodiment of disassembly means;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view cor-responding to FIGS. 5 and 7 and showing certain elements of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view corresponding to FIGS.

7 3 and 6 and showing a fifth embodiment of disassembly means; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 11.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown transport means 21, which in the illustrated ernbodiments takes the form of a drum assembly. The drum assembly 21 is adapted to receive a series of cigarette and filter assemblies from a conveyor 22a, which in one convenient form constitutes another drum, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The assemblies 20 are thereafter transported or carried on the outer circumference of the revolving drum assembly 21 and are acted upon by the disassembling means. Those that are not disassembled according to the invention are delivered to a conveyor 22b, also illustrated as a drum, for further processing, e.g. for transfer to packaging means. It is to be understood that the conveyors 22a and 22b may be any means adapted to carry a series of assemblies 20 to and from drum assembly 21, and are not restricted to drum-type conveyors.

The cigarette and filter assemblies 20 are individually tested for quality as they pass around the drum assembly 21. The assemblies are tested and ones found defective in the test are rejected and disassembled during travel around the lower right hand quadrant of the drum (as viewed in FIG. 1), while the ones which pass the test continue on and are removed from the drum at the upper left hand quadrant, by conveyor 22b. The invention finds important use in disassembling and segregating rejected assemblies 20. Nevertheless, the invention finds broad application whenever selected ones of a series of cigarette and filter assemblies 20 are to be cut in a manner to segregate the center filter section 20a from the cigarette sections 20b and 200. It is not necessary that such selected ones be rejects or selected by a testing process.

The drum assembly 21 comprises a fixed head 23 which serves to mount the entire drum assembly 21 both to the general framework (not shown) of the cigarette processing equipment with which it is employed and to mount certain hereinafter described fixed components to the drum assembly 21 itself. Journalled within head 23 is a rotatable drum 24 which extends at one end through annular fixed drum portion 23 as a reduced diameter rotatable drum portion 24a, which includes intermediate stepped surfaces 24e, 24], and 24d, and which is terminated at its opposite end by a flange 24b. Rotatable drum 24 is connected to a drive means 90 (FIG. 8). The surface 24d of rotatable drum 24 bounded by face 24c and flange portion 24b thereof constitutes a nesting surface for the cradling and transport of cigarette and filter assemblies 20.

Rotatable drum 24 carries a plurality of longitudinal rows of cradling means 25, said rows being arranged around the circumference of rotatable drum 24 upon the surface 24d. Each cradling means 25 is shown in the form of a semi-circular flute adapted to cradle a portion of the cylindrical surface of an assembly 20. The central pair of cradling means in a row are connected to form an elongated cradling means 25a which is thereby adapted to receive the cylindrical surface of substantially the entire filter portion 20a of a cirgarette and filter as sembly 20.

Each cradling means 25 has a central orifice 26 opening at a position underlying any cigarette and filter assembly cradled thereby. Central elongated cradling means 25a has a pair of these orifices. The orifices 26 in each row, i.e. the orifices 26 associated with a row of cradling means 25 for cradling a single cigarette and filter assembly 20, are connected in common by internal passageways (not shown) so as to be valved as a group to either a positive source of air pressure or a source of air vacuum. The valving means are described hereinafter. Thus each cigarette and filter assembly 20 may be subjected to either positive air pressure at orifices 26 at the cradling means 25 and 25a in which it is nested or it may be. subjected at those same orifices to an air vacuum. Each such assembly 20 is thus individually subjected at its associated orifices 26 to pressure tending to eject it from the cradling means 25 and 25a or to vacuum tending to retain it.

The rotatable drum 24 is driven in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 so that conveyor 22a (or equivalent means) deposits a cigarette and filter assembly 20 into each of the aforesaid rows of cradling means as it appears tangent to the conveyor 22a.

Mounted on reduced diameter portion 24a of rotatable drum 24 is a plurality of actuatable members, shown in the form of valve operators 27 which rotate with drum portions 24a and thus with rotatable drum 24. Valve operators 27 are equal in number to and are aligned circumferentially with the rows of cradling means 25 and thus with any cigarette and fiter assemblies 20 cradled therein. Each valve operator 27 is rotatable on its own longitudinal axis. The angular position of each valve operator 27 controls the selective application of positive air pressure or air vacuum to the orifices 26 in the row of cradling means 25, 25a, circumferentially aligned with that particular valve operator 27. Thus any given valve operator 27 will cause positive air pressure to be applied to all of orifices 26 in the row of cradling means 25, 25a, associated therewith when in a first angular position, and will cause air vacuum to be applied to all those same orifices when in a second angular position.

Each valve operator 27 includes a spindle 28 to which are attached a pair of radial fingers 29 and 30. At the uppermost portion of spindle 28 is a cam 31. This cam 31 constitutes a segmental extension of spindle 28, which is eccentric relative to the axis of spindle 28. The finger 29 lies along a general line parallel to surface 31a of cam 31. The other finger 30 is disposed approximately at a 45 angle away from the plane of surface 31a.

Attached to a fixed shaft 32 of drum assembly 21 is a fixed arm 33 which carries at its extreme end a heousing 34 mounting a solenoid 35 controlling a solenoid plunger 35a. The housing 34 is so positioned, and plunger 53a has an axial movement of sufi'icient length, as to intercept any finger 30 passing by when plunger 35a is in its extended position, but adapted to clear any finger 30 passing by when plunger 35a is in its retracted position. As valve operators 27 rotate about fixed hub 32, the fingers 30 carried thereby pass in the immediate proximity of plunger 35a of solenoid 35. The setting of rotatable valve operators 27 is undisturbed during this process until an electrical signal to solenoid 35 causes the extension of plunger 35a, as is shown occurring in FIG. 2, which intercepts the finger 30 then in proximity or next coming into proximity with plunger 35a, thereby to turn valve operator 27 so that cam surface 31a is rotated a full from the position shown at the uppermost valve operator 27 in FIG. 2 to the position shown in the lowermost actuatable member 27 in FIG. 2. The dashed lines X and Y in FIG. 2 indicate a zone. Any finger 30 extending outside the X line border of that zone will be intercepted and turned by the plunger 35a when it is extended.

The 'valving action of valve operator 27 is such that the aforesaid quarter turn thereof by the action of plunger 35a on finger 30 acts to switch the orifices 26 associated therewith from a normal air vacuum condition to positive air pressure. It will be understood that this action tends to eject the associated cigarette and filter assembly 20 from its nested position within the associated cradling means 25, 26a. This action is temporarily prevented by the presence of a circumferential guide bar 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which acts at central filter portion 20a to restrain the assemblies 20 radially against such ejection during a limited arcuate portion of the circumferential travel of drum 24, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. In the illustrated embodiment, this limited arcuate portion of travel constitutes about one-quarter turn of drum 24, specifically the lower right hand quadrant shown in FIG. 3.

The control of solenoid 35 thereby controls the selection of which cigarette and filter assemblies 20 are sub jected to positive ejecting air pressure and which are continued with retaining air vacuum at orifices 26. Solenoid 35 may be responsive to any appropriate selecting signal, but in the preferred employment of the apparatus solenoid 35 is responsive to a signal generated by testing equipment (not shown) carried by drum assembly 21 and operative upon cigarette and filter assemblies 20. The assemblies 20 are exposed at the open end of ciga rette portion 2012 by means of sleeves 110 which accommodate the end, to testing air pressure, which may be higher or lower than ambient air pressure. Sleeves 110 are retractable into face 24c of drum 24, and a cam (not shown) activates sleeves 110 so that they are extended (FIG. 2) during the approximately 60 of travel immediately after reception of assemblies 20 from conveyor 22a, and retracted during the remaining travel around with drum 24. During that initial 60 of travel the assemblies 20 are tested by the extended sleeves 110. The sleeves are then retracted so that defective assemblies 20 can be ejected freely. The testing apparatus develops a signal when a defective assembly 20 is encountered, which is applied to solenoid 35, causing it to extend solenoid plunger 35a. The signal is derived near the end of the said 60 of travel, so that the valve operator 27 associated with the defective assembly 20 is the next to come past solenoid 35 and extended plunger 35a. The finger 30 of valve operator 27 associated with that particular defective assembly 20 is intercepted by plunger 35a, and turns valve operator 27, so that positive air pressure is directed against that assembly 20 until valve operator 27 is turned back to the air vacuum :position, which as is explained hereinbelow, is after the quarter revolution encompassed by guide bar 36.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, all defective and nondefective cigarette and filter assemblies 20 pass through the quarter turn encompassed by guide bar 36 to reach end 36a thereof, which end is essentially tangent to the circular outline of the main portion of guide bar 36. The non-defective cigarette and filter assemblies 20 are, during the quarter turn within guide bar 36, still subject to air vacuum and will therefore continue to be held by cradling means 25 in circumferential travel with drum 24. On the other hand, the defective cigarette and filter assemblies 20 will have been under positive air pressure, restrained however by guide bar 36. Such defective assemblies 20 will :be disassembled :by means described hereinafter, and the cigarette sections 20b, 200, will separate from the associated cradling means 25, 25a, during travel along end portion 36a. On the other hand, filter sections 20a will separate from the cradling means only upon reaching the termination of end portion 36a. All sections 20a, 20b, 200, will be ejected into composite chute 37 under the combined effects of gravity and positive air pressure. Composite chute 37, as is best shown in FIG. 4, includes dividing panels 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d which serve to divide composite chute 37 into a central chute 39 under end 36a and adapted to receive severed filter portions 20a, and side chutes 39 and 40 extending nearly the entire depth of guide bar 36 and adapted to receive, respectively, cigarette portions 20b and 20c, of cigarette and filter assemblies 20.

Afiixed to annular fixed drum portion 23 is a general framework 42. Specifically, a bar 43 is afiixed to head 23 by a bracket 44 and carries both guide bar 36 and depending bar 45. As is best shown in FIG. 2, depending bar 45 supports a short horizontal bar 46 which in turn carries at its ends vertical brackets 47 and 48. Depending bar 45 and vertical brackets 47 and 48 support the various elements comprising cutting means assembly 41. As will best be understood from FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, any cigarette and filter assemblies 20 which have been selected for ejection into chute 37 are severed by cutting means assembly 41 in the vicinity of portion 36a of guide bar 36.

In FIG. 5 cutting means assembly 41 is shown in detail and includes a cam follower indicated generally at 49, having a first end shaped to include a high-rise portion 50 constituting the cam contacting surface, and a second end 51. Pivot member 52 pins cam follower 49 to vertical bracket 47, intermediate ends 50' and 51, for pivotal motion in the vertical plane. Pivoted to vertical bracket 48 by pin 61 is a yoke indicated generally at 53. Pivot pin =61 is coaxial with pivot pin 52, and the pair of arms 54a and 54b of yoke 53 extends approximately as far beyond pivot pin 61 as the end carrying the high-rise portion '50 of cam follower 49 extends beyond pivot pin 52. Each of arms 54a, 54b, carries a knife means 55 having the cutting edge thereof upwardly disposed. The shank portion 56 of yoke 53 extends approximately the same distance beyond pivot pin 61 as end 51 of cam follower 49 extends beyond pivot pin 52. End 51 of cam follower and end 56 of yoke 53 are connected by a member 57 which is pivotally connected by an intermediate pivot pin 58 to depending bar 45. The connection between member 57 and end 51 is by universal joint 59 and the connection between member 57 and end 56 is by universal joint 60. Attached to the lower portion of bracket 47 is a spring mounting bracket 63 (FIG. 1). A spring 64 is connected in tension between bracket 63 and the end 51 of cam follower member 49 so as to bias high-rise cam follower surface 50 upwardly against the ca'mrnjng action of earns 31.

Depression of cam follower surface portion 50 by cam 31 causes raising of the end of connecting member 57 nearest universal joint 59 which in turn causes depression of the opposite end thereof nearest universal joint 60, all in accordance with the illustrative arrows. The proportions of arms 57a and 5711 may be varied to obtain the desired multiplier effect at yoke 53. Arm 57b is preferably longer than arm 57a so that movement at cam follower surface 50 causes amplified movement at knife means 55. Depression of universal joint 60 is accompanied by depression of shank end 56 of yoke 53, thus raising arms 54a, 54b, with blades 55 at tached thereto, also in as indicated by the illustrative arrows. The train of elements comprising cutting means assembly 41 thereby causes the raising of knife means 55 by the depression of high-rise cam follower surface portion 50. Since pivot pins 61 and 52 are coaxial and the respective arms associated with high-rise cam follower surface portion 50 and knives 55 are approximately equal in length, depression of portion 50 causes immediate upward application of cutting blades 55 at a point circumferentially adjacent, with respect to rotating drum 24, to portion 50. That is to say, the doublingback afforded by the various linkages allows an upward cutting action circumferentially adjacent to the downward actuating action. Moreover the upward movement of knives 55 is greater than the downward movement of cam follower surface 50, because of the aforesaid multiplier effect of arms 57a, 57b. As is shown in FIG. 4, a bracket 120 mounts a set screw 62 which is held in the downward path of arm 56. Adjustment of set screw 62 thus adjust the limit of the downward travel of arm 56 and thereby the limit of upward travel of knives 55. Thus scoring of drum 24 by knives 55 is prevented.

As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cam follower surface 50 lies outside of the annulus swept out by the cam 31 of any valve operator 27 on rotating drum 24, when that cam is positioned such that cam surface 31:: lies parallel to its direction of motion around drum portion 24a. When cam 31 has been turned such that surface 31a thereof lies transverse to its direction of travel around drum 24a, the annulus swept out by cam 31 is broadened to intrude on the cam follower surface '50, resulting in the depression thereof as is shown occurring in FIGS. 1 and 2. Any valve operator 27 which is turned by plunger 35a from the aforesaid parallel position to the aforesaid transverse position of cam surface 31a, is thereby set for subsequent actuation of cam follower 49 when the circumferential travel of that valve operator 27 carries it around into contact with high-rise cam follower portion 50. Valve operators 27 which have not been so turned pass by cam follower portion 50 without in any way touching or affecting it. When a cam 31a intercepts cam follower 49 it drives high-rise cam follower portion 50 downward as aforesaid, thereby bringing into play the already described movements in the elements constituting cutting means assembly 41, the effect of which is to raise knife means 55 upwardly concurrently with the downward movement of cam follower portion 50.

Because of the construction of cutting means assembly 41, the cutting stroke of knives 55 is applied at the same circumferential position as is occupied by cam follower surface 50, but inwardly thereof, at filter portion 20a nested in the central cradling means 25a, as is best seen in FIG. 2. The actual cutting is thereby performed in circumferential alignment with the actuating cam 31. As is best shown in FIG. 4, knives 55 are spaced so that they address themselves to assembly 20 very slightly outide of the end limits of filter portion 20a so as not to pull any filter fibers or other filter material into the cigarette portions 20b or 200. The assembly 20 is indexed against flange 24b during its entire circumferential travel and accordingly the application of knives 55 may be closely controlled relative to the longitudinal axis of assembly 20. The rapid circumferential motion of assemblies 20 cause a clean cut as knives 55 are applied thereto, and the cen tral filter portion 20a is ejected by positive gas pressure jets from orifices 26 in cradling means 25a into chute portion 38 while the freshly severed cigarette portions 20b and 200, which are now free, are similarly ejected by the action of orifices 26 in flutes 25 into chute portions 39 and 40. These ejecting actions occur at a precise point because of the prior restraint of guide bar 36 on filter section 20a, and thus on any cigarette sections 20b, 20c, attached thereto.

As has already been mentioned, bits and pieces of broken cigarette assemblies 20 are not segregated by automatic inspection equipment, and hence cause a problem in the salvage operation, since the bits and pieces need a different salvage treatment than complete cigarettes. It is a feature of the present invention that this problem is solved. There are only three possibilities for such bits and pieces. They may constitute a whole filter section 20a alone, a cigarette section 20b or 200 alone, or a whole filter section 20a with a piece or pieces of cigarette sections 20b or 200 attached thereto. A filter portion 20a that is not attached to any cigaree porions 20b and 20c, i.e. hat constitutes a bit or piece by itself, must nevertheless travel around to end 36a because of the restraint of guide bar 36, and will there be deposited into chute 38. A filter section 20a attached to a bit or piece of cigarette section 20b or 20c, will be shorn of that cigarette section piece by knives 55, and will thus also be deposited in chute 38. Thus all filter sections of broken assemblies end up as segregated filter ections in chute 38, regardless of whether or not they were originally free of cigarette section bits. This means that all filter sections 20a are deposited in chute 38, since the filter sections 20a of severed whole assemblies 20 are also deposited there, as aforesaid.

The cigarette section bits and pieces will, if they are originally separate from a filter section 20a, be ejected into chutes 39, 40, as soon as the positive air pressure is applied to the orifices 26 associated therewith. This is coniderably before end 36a and that is why the chutes 39, 40, extend back along guide bar 36, as illustrated. Any cigarette section bit or piece that is attached to a filter section 20a, Will be shorn therefrom at knives 55, and will be ejected into chutes 39, 40, at that point. Thus all cigarette sections of broken assemblies end up in chutes 39, 40, regardless of whether or not they were originally free of a filter section 20w This means that all cigarette sections are deposited in chutes 39, 40, since the cigarette sections of severed whole assemblies 20 are also deposited there, as aforesaid. The present invention thus affords automatic segregation of bits and pieces of broken assemblies, and deposit thereof into the same receiver means where the severed sections of whole assemblies 20 are segregated and deposited.

When-valve operators 27 are just past highrise portion of cam follower 49, they are either disposed with earns 31 in the essentially parallel (air vacuum) or the essentially transverse (air pressure) positions relative to their circumferential travel, as aforesaid. Thus the associated cradling means 25, 25a, either do or do not still cradle an assembly 20. Any such assemblies are, of course, acceptable assemblies and must be transferred to output conveyor drum 22b, for further processing. A finger 121 is fixed to head 23 intermediate cam follower portion 50 (FIG. 1) and conveyor drum 22b, and has a working end 121a close enough to line Y to intercept the finger 29 on any valve operator 27 that is not already turned so that surface 31a is parallel to its circumferential travel. All valve operators 27 passing fixed finger 121 are thus in the air vacuum position. At the point of tangency between drum 24 and output conveyor drum 2212, the orifices 26 of the cradling means occupying that position are momentarily valved from air vacuum to positive air pressure by an internal control ring (not shown) so that the assemblies 20 carried thereby are transferred to conveyor drum 22b. This valving to positive air pressure and return to air vacuum could also be effected by the action of two successive fingers similar in action to finger 121, upon fingers 29 and 30 of the valve operator 27 in questlOIl, bllt the aforesaid internal momentary valving to positive air pressure is preferred.

In I IGS. 6 and 7 is shown the second embodiment of a cutting means assembly, therein denoted as assembly 141. A spaced pair of knives a is mounted for rotation with a shaft 70. A crank 71 is fixed on shaft and extends in approximately the opposite direction from the lever arms constituting blades 55a. Solenoid 73 is mounted on horizontal bar 46 by means of bracket 74 and includes a plunger 72 attached to crank 71. Actuation of solenoid 73 draws plunger 72 inward, thus lowering crank 71 and raismg knives 55a into the cutting attitude, both as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7. In this embodiment the actuation of knives 55a by valve operator 27, and the intermediate cams and cam followers, has been eliminated. The valve operator 27, in this second embodiment, performs only the function of switching between positive air pressure and air vacuum, and that function is performed in the same manner as aforesaid. The signal employed to actuate solenoid 35, in order to switch a selected valve operator 27, may also be employed to actuate solenoid 73 thus applying cutting knives 55a to the proper assembly 20. As already explained, this signal is preferably derived from the testing means. Since the air pressure switching by valve operator 27 occurs at an earlier point in the circumferential travel of an assembly 20 within the embrace of guide bar 36, suitable delay means (not shown) are employed to delay the action of solenoid 73 until that same assembly 20 has reached knives 55a.

In FIG. 8 is shown the third embodiment of means assembly, therein denoted as assembly 241. In this embodiment the guide bar 36 and the cams 31 and cam follower 49 are not employed. Instead a smaller auxiliary drum 75 is provided on a shaft 76 parallel to the shaft of rotatable drum 24, such that the two drums are approximately tangent. The circumferential spacing between cradling means 77 on smaller drum 75 is equal to the circumferential spacing of the cradling means 25, 25a, on rotatable drum 24. Smaller drum 75 is driven in synchronization with rotatable drum 24 by motor and respective drives 91 and 92, such that every cradling a cutting means 25, 25a, during rotation of drums 24 and 75, meets a cradling means 77 at the tangent point between the drums.

In this third embodiment, valving of orifice 26 is not effected until the corresponding cradling means 25, 25a, is in opposed relationship to a cradling means 77, as illustrated in FIG. 8. If the cigarette and filter assembly then occupying that cradling means 25 is.to be rejected and disassembled, a signal will previously have been generated, as for example by the aforesaid testing apparatus which has found that assembly to fall below specifications, and the resultant signal which has been appropriately delayed until that cigarette and. filter assembly 20 has arrived at the tangent point of that cradling means 25 and a cradling means 77 on smaller drum 75, will at that moment be effective to valve orifice 26 from air vacuum to air pressure. Similarly orifices 78 of cradling means 77 are valved to air vacuum only when positive air pressure has been applied through orifices 26 of the opposed cradling means 25, 25a so that any cigarette and filter assembly 20 ejected by positive air pressure from cradling means 25, 25a, is transferred to cradling means 77 and carried around circumferentially thereon. The valving to air vacuum at orifices 78 and the valving to positive air pressure at orifices 26 are both responsive to the aforesaid signal, and are preferably simultaneously effected. A pair of circular knives 5517 are spaced apart and driven on shaft 80 so as to make two spaced cuts immediately at either side of the filter portion 20a of each cigarette and filter assembly 20 carried on drum 75. A guide bar 130 retains each assembly 20 on drum 78 during a quadrant of travel past knives 55b, the retaining force being applied at filter sections 20a. Orifices 78 may be valved to positive air pressure by internal means (not shown) during travel under guide bar 130. The severed portions produced by the driven pair of knives 55b may be segregated into respective bins in a manner similar to that shown with the first embodiment.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 is shown the fourth embodiment of a cutting means assembly, therein denoted as assembly 341. This embodiment is in all ways a duplicate of that shown in the first embodiment as cutting means assembly 41, except that in place of yoke 53, a single pivoted bar 82 is provided which carries, in place of stationary knives 55, a pair of rotatable knives 55c, driven by a flexible shaft 81. The manner of operation of this fourth embodiment is entirely the same as that already described with respect to the first embodiment. In certain applications, as for example where drum 24 speed is relatively low, a cleaner cut of assembly 20 may be afforded by rotata ble knives 550 because of the higher cutting edge speed afforded thereby. An advantage of rotatable blades results from the inherent ability to provide self-sharpening means (not shown) therefor.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 is shown the fifth embodiment of a cutting means assembly, therein denoted as assembly 441. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 in that solenoid 73a actuates the cutting elements. However, in this embodiment solenoid 73a actuates only a trigger means, whereby the actual work force in applying the cutting means is not supplied by solenoid 73a, thus decreasing the power required from that solenoid, making it faster, and simplifying switching.

In this fifth embodiment solenoid 73a is mounted to a portion of short horizontal frame bar 46 by means of a bracket 83. Carried by bracket 83 is a pair of cars 84, 85, which rotatably carry a shaft 86. Pivotally carried by shaft 86 is a cutting member lever 87, which carries a pair of rotatable cutting means 55d at the opposite end thereof. Intermediate the ends of lever 87 is a transverse shaft 88, which carries a cam follower wheel 89. In this embodiment, the fi-ange 24b is shaped as a cam, including depressed portions 95, each corresponding to an adjacent cradling means 25. The cam follower wheel 89 is adapted, when lever 87 is free, to ride this cam outline of flange 24b. The parts are so proportioned that when the cam follower wheel 89 rides down into a depression 95, lever .87 follows it to cause knives 55d to come into contact with and to sever the assembly 20 in the next adjacent carrying means 25, as is shown in FIG. 11 in broken outline.

The lever 87 is restrained against such movement by a trigger means comprising a latch tongue 96 carried by lever 87 and a keeper bar 97. Keeper bar 97 is centrally pivoted to a frame bar 98 connected to horizontal frame bar 46, and is spring biased in the latched position by a tension spring 99 mounted at the other end thereof to bracket 83. The end 100 of keeper bar 97 opposite from catch end 101, is connected to plunger 72a of solenoid 73a. When solenoid 73a is actuated, plunger 72a is drawn in, thus triggering the catch end 101 from retention of latch tongue 96. Lever 87 is then driven against cam flange 2411 by compression spring 102, which is mounted to frame portion 98. Thereupon, the cam follower wheel 89 enters the next depression 95, causing an assembly 20 to be severed by knives 55d. As each normal outline portion of flange 24b appears under cam follower wheel 89, an opportunity for re-latching is afforded, since parts 101 and 96 are realigned for latching. Deenergization of solenoid 73a at such a time allows these parts to be re-latched by tension spring 99, thus terminating the cutting action of knives 55d. The same signal that actuates solenoid 35 and thereby turns valve operator 27 from negative to positive air pressure, can be utilized to actuate solenoid 73a, providing appropriate delay means are employed, as already described, to allow a given assembly 20 to be first switched to positive air pressure and then severed.

While a number of specific embodiments of the invention have been shown, they are illustrative, not limiting. Numerous changes and rearrangements of the features of the various embodiments may be made without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; valve operator means as sociated with each said cradling means adapted to connect a source of gas pressure and alternatively a source of gas vacuum to orifices of that cradling means; means for restraining any assemblies subjected to positive air pressure against ejection from the associated cradling means during a limited arcuate distance of travel of said drum surface; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said cigarette and filter assemblies; and means for driving said cutting means against any assembly subjected to said positive gas pressure during said limited arcuate distance of travel so as to separate the filter portion from the: cigarette portions of each such assembly.

2. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; valve operator means associated with each said cradling means adapted to connect a source of gas pressure and alternatively a source of gas vacuum to orifices of that cradling means; stop means located opposite a portion of said drum for restraining any assemblies subjected to positive air pressure against ejection from the associated cradling means during a limited arcuate distance of travel of said drum surface; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; means for driving said cutting means against any assembly subjected to said positive gas pressure during said limited arcuate distance of travel so as to separate the filter portion from the cigarette portions of each such assembly; and means for separately receiving said cigarette and filter portions at the end of said stop means.

3. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any cigarette and filter assembly cradled thereby; a plurality of valve operator means spaced circumferentially around and mounted for rotation with said drum, each one thereof being associated with one of said cradling means and adapted when in a first position to connect a source of gas vacuum to orifices thereof and in a second position to connect a source of gas pressure to orifices thereof; selecting means adapted to intercept any selected ones of said valve operator means and move it from said first to said second position; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; and means for driving said cutting means against any cigarette and filter assembly subjected to said positive gas pressure so as to separate the filter portion from the cigarette portions of each such assembly.

4. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any cigarette and filter assembly cradled thereby; a plurality of valve operator means spaced circumferentially around and mounted for rotation with said drum, each one thereof being associated with one of said cradling means and adapted when in a first position to connect a source of gas vacuum to orifiecs thereof and in a second position to connect a source of gas pressure to orifice thereof; selecting means adapted to intercept any selected ones of said valve operator means and moved from said first to said second position; means for restraining any cigarette and filter assemblies subjected to positive air pressure against ejection from the associated cradling means during a limited arcuate distance of travel of said drum surface; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; and means for driving said cutting means against any cigarette and filter assembly subjected to said positive gas pressure during said limited arcuate distance of travel so as to separate the filter portion from the cigarette portions of each such assembly.

5. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; a plurality of valve operator means spaced circumferentially around and mounted for rotation with said drum, each one thereof being associated with one of said cradling means and adapted when in a first position to connect a source of gas vacuum to orifices thereof and in a second position to connect a source of gas pressure to orifices thereof; selecting means adapted to intercept any selected ones of said valve operator means and move it from said first to said second position; cam means carried by each of said valve operator means and movable therewith between said first and second positions; means for restraining any assemblies subjected to positive air pressure against ejection from the associated cradling means during a limited arcuate distance of travel of said drum surface; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; and means for separating the filter portion from the cigarette portions of each assembly subjected to positive gas pressure, including a cam follower responsive to each of said cam means and operative to drive said cutting means against such assemblies only when an adjacent cam means is in said second position.

6. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; a plurality of valve operator means spaced circumferentially around and mounted for rotation with said drum, each one thereof being associated with one of said cradling means and adapted when in a first position to connect a source of gas vaccum to orifices thereof and in a second position to connect a source of gas pressure to orifices thereof; selecting means mounted at a first station fixed relative to said drum and adapted to intercept any selected ones of said valve operator means and move it from said first to said second position; cam means carried by each of said valve operator means and movable therewith between said first and second positions; means for restraining any assemblies subjected to positive air pressure against ejection from the associated cradling means during a limited arcuate distance of travel of said drum surface; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; connecting means mounted at a second station fixed relative to said drum and selectively adapted to move said cutting means into and out of cutting contact with the cigarette and filter assemblies carried past said second station by said drum; and cam follower means mounted at a third station fixed relative to said drum, said cam follower means being adapted to sense the position of each said cam means carried past said third station by said drum, and effective to cause said connecting means to move said cutting means into cutting contact only when an adjacent cam means is in said second position.

7. Apparatus according to claim wherein said second and third stations occupy the same circumferential position relative to said drum, said connecting means being arranged so as to apply said cutting means at substantially the same circumferential position on said drum as is occupied by the portion of said cam follower means contacted by said cam means.

8. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferentil relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies tnansverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; a plurality of valve operator means spaced circumferentially around and mounted for rotation with said drum, each one thereof being associated with one of said cnadling means and adapted when in a first position to connect a source of gas vacuum to orifices thereof and in a second position to connect a source of gas pressure to orifices thereof; selecting means mounted at a first station fixed relative to said drum and adapted to intercept any selected ones of said valve operator means and move it from said first to said second position; cam means carried by each of said valve operator means and movable therewith between said first and second positions; means for restraining any assemblies subjected to positive air pressure against ejection from the associated cradling means during a limited arcuate distance of travel of said drum surface; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; connecting means mounted at a second station fixed relative to said drum and selectively adapted to move said cutting means into and out of cutting contact with the assemblies carried past said second station by said drum, said connecting means comprising a first pivoted lever having two lever arms, said cutting means being carried by one of said arms, a second pivoted lever having two lever arms, one arm of which is connected for universal movement to the other of said arms of said first pivoted lever; and cam follower means mounted at a third station fixed relative to said drum and comprising a third pivoted lever having two lever arms, one arm of which carries a cam follower surface, the other arm of which is connected for universal movement to the other of said arms of said second pivoted lever, said cam follower means being positioned to be intercepted and actuated only by cam means disposed in said second position, and being effective there upon to operate said first pivoted lever through said second pivoted lever to move said cutting means into trans verse cutting contact with the adjacent assembly.

9. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any cigarette and filter assembly cradled thereby; valve operator means associated with each said cradling means selectively adapted to connect a source of gas pressure and alternatively a source of gas vacuum to orifices of that cradling means; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; and connecting means for driving said cutting means against anyassembly subjected to said positive pressure so (as to separate the filter portion from the cigarette portions of each such assembly, said connecting means including a trigger means adapted to institute the driving action thereof.

10. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a rotatable drum having a circumferential surface; a plurality of cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said drum surface, each said cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; a plurality of valve operator means spaced circumferentially around and mounted for rotation with said drum, each one thereof being associated with one of said cradling means and adapted when in a first position to connect a source of gas vacuum to orifices thereof !and in a second position to connect a source of gas pressure to orifices thereof; selecting means mounted at a first station fixed relative to said drum and adapted to intercept any selected ones of said valve operator means and move it from said first to said second position; cam means carried circumferentially by said drum having a detent portion corresponding to each of said cradling means; means for restraining any assemblies subjected to positive air pressure against ejection from the associatied cradling means during a limited arcuate distance of travel of said drum surface; cutting means including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of the filter portion of said assemblies; connecting means mounted at a second station fixed relative to said drum and selectively adapted to move said cutting means into and out of cutting contact with the cigarette and filter assemblies carried past said second station by said drum, said connecting means including trigger means adapted to restrain said cutting means out of said cutting contact until selectively actuated; and cam follower means associated with said connecting means, said cam follower means being adapted upon selective actuation of said connecting means by said trigger means to follow the outline of said cam means carried by said drum, thereby to cause said connecting means to move said cutting means into cutting contact only when a detent portion of said cam means is adjacent thereto and said trigger means has :been actuated.

11. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter assemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a first rotatable drum having a first circumferential surface; a plurality of first cradling means ararnged in spaced circumferential relation on said first drum surface, each said first cradling means being adapted to position one of said assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said first drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said first cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; a second rotatable drum having a second circumferential surface approximately tangent to said first drum surface; a plurality of second cradling means arranged in spaced cirumferential relation on said second drum surface; means for coordinating the rotation of said first and second drums so that said first and second cradling means meet in aligned pairs at said approximately tangent point; means defining at least one orifice connectable to a source of gas vacuum within each of said second cradling means at a position underlying any cigarette and filter assembly cradled thereby; valve operator means associated with each said first cradling means selectively adapted to connect gas pressure and alternatively gas vacuum to orifices of that cradling means, any connection to gas pressure being effective at said tangent point; and cutting means associated with said second drum including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies, said blades being disposed to intercept any assembly carried by said second rotatable drum so as to separate the filter portion and the cigarette portions thereof.

12. Apparatus for disassembling and segregating double cigarette and filter iassemblies each consisting of two cigarette sections, one at each end of the assembly and a double length filter section between them, comprising a first rotatable drum having a first circumferential surface; a plurality of first cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said tfirst drum surface, each said first cradling means being adapted to position one of sad assemblies transverse to the circumferential direction of movement of said first drum surface; means defining at least one orifice located within each said first cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; a second rotatable drum havng a second circumferential surface approximately tangent to said first drum surface; a plurality of second cradling means arranged in spaced circumferential relation on said second drum surface; means for coordinating the rotation of said first and second drums so that said first and second cradling means meet in aligned pairs at said approximately tangent point; means defining at least one orifice connectable to a source of gas vacuum within each of said second cradling means at a position underlying any assembly cradled thereby; valve operator means associated with each said first cradling means selectively adapted to connect a source of gas pressure and alternatively a source of gas vacuum to orfices of that cradling means; selecting means for switching any of said valve operator means to positive gas pressure; cutting means associated with said second drum including a pair of parallel blades spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of the filter portion of said assemblies, said blades having cutting edges thereof disposed in the path of any assemblies carried by said second drum; first receiver means located at said second drum for the filter sections; and second receiver means located at said second drum for the cigarette sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,233,613 2/1966 Korber et al. 131-20 3,237,444 3/1966 Kaeding et al.

HUGH R. CHAMBLEE, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,404,688 October 8, 1968 Jesse R. Pinkham et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 63, "FIGS." should read FIG. Column 4, lines 34 and 35, "heousing" should read housing line 37, "53a" should read 35a line 64, "2621" should read 25a Column 5, line 57, "39" should read 38 Column 6, line 17 after "follower" insert 49 line 41, cancel "in". Column 7, line 51, "cigaree porions" should read cigarette portions line 52, "hat" should read that line 59, "ections" should read sections line 69, "coniderably" should read considerably Column 11, line 60, "orifiecs" should read orifices line 62, "orifice" should read orifices Column 13, lines 13 and 14, "circumferentil" should read circumferential Column 14, line 57, "ararnged" should read arranged Column 15, line 19 "sad" should read said Signed and sealed this 17th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

